AkrHack

I'm planning to go to Bloomington Gold or Corvettes of Carlisle this year. Both are a 4+ hour drive from where I live. The deciding factor for me is which show has the best swap meet to find quality used C2 parts. Please give me your opinions about your experience at the swap meets at one or both shows.

Thanks,
Rick

ohiovet

CORVETTES AT CARLISLE is the best period, for Corvette parts and cars

vettebuyer6369

Even though I'm a BLoomington Gold Guy, Carlisle clearly has the better swap meet by far. Even in BGs heydays in the 80s and 90s, Carlisle's Corvette swap was and is without peer.

However, why would a 4 hour drive make it an "either/or" choice? I go to both...and they are 2 months apart. I drive 13 hours one way to Carlisle.

I'd drive 4 hours to both shows if they were consecutive weekends.

capevettes

Carlisle hands down. Not what it used to be, but still the biggest and best by far. I drive 8 hours to go to Carlisle. With a 4 hour drive, doing both seems like a no brainer to me.

Geralds57

Carlisle

GRipp 73

Like others have said. Carlisle is the better show for swap meet parts. Although I found some great parts at Bloomington Gold last year in Indy and found the prices / negotiations a lot easier on the wallet.

AkrHack

That is interesting that you found the pricing to be lower at Bloomington when compared to Carlisle. Everyone loves to save a few bucks. If I were to go to Bloomington, is one full day enough time to see everything at the swap meet?

phil2302

Correct ^

65VetteVert

I went to the BG show last year. You can browse the entire swap meet in a half day.

ohiovet

The BG swap meet easily covered in a few hours as compared to a few days at Carlisle.

GRipp 73

Again, others are spot on. The swap meet area at Bloomington Gold can be covered in a few hours. Even quicker if you have a list of items you are actively searching for. If you are just browsing and say "that looks good", it might take half a day.

I went for one day last year, browsed the swap area first as I was looking for certain items, went on the Z06 Mountain Spring ride, an autocross ride along, saw some judging, looked at the beautiful displays, walked the vendors, had lunch, looked over the Corvettes for sale area, and still got out of indy before the event closed down for the day. It was fun, and I got to do it all with the father-in-law. That was the best part, spending it with family and enjoying the views.

ohiovet

Last year the swap meet was split up into 2 different areas.
I sure hope it is all together this year in one spot.

Bruski

BG swap meet seems to get smaller every year. Been going to BG for years, Bloomington, Springfield, back to Bloomington, up to Pheasant Run. Did not go to Indy. yet. I found my '66 at BG car corral 25 years ago. I've bought select parts there for a decent price. We used to do a 3 day event, then it was 2, then down to one long day. Parts are getting harder to find, or I'm more selective. Carlisle is better in my opinion.....

Geralds57

roberts427

if u go to Carlisle get ur hotel early. not cheap

Bluestripe67

Carlisle is great for all the above reasons. For those of us who have been attending for many years, I believe the camaraderie is a big deal. Dennis

Corvette ED

Carlisle. You better be able to walk. Lots of area to cover!!!

LouieM

Carlisle is definitely vaster. Bring lots of Gatorade to fuel miles of parts vendors' stalls.

vettebuyer6369

It was actually split up more than that. There were vendors in each of the little "garages," and some of those vendors had excellent stuff. I didnt see them until the second day I was there. I love the new Indy location, but I think there's bugs to work out. I thought there could have been more signs to point to the different places parts were being sold.

Ill always go to Bloomington but its not going to compare with Carlisle in terms of swap... Just like Carlisle will never compete with Bloomington regarding early show cars like you find on the Certification or Survivor fields.

It's way too late for that. I got my usual overpriced dump back in January. Some will pop up though, so keep your eyes open if you want one. Just not a cheap one.